Never Second Best Page 12
“Do you believe me now?” he opened the small box to show the ring he had worn for seven years.
She grabbed it from his hand, throwing it back inside the box before kissing him.
“Not so fast,” the idea had been building all day.
Seth held onto her with one hand as he found and turned his toolkit upside down looking for the perfect item.
“Lucy Dawson, do you love me.”
“You know that I do.”
“Do you love my kids.”
“Again, you know that I do.”
“Then, Lucy Dawson, will you marry me,” he placed an old car wheel nut over her finger. The grease making it easy to slip over her knuckle, “I promise to replace this with whatever rock you want, as long as you say ‘yes’.”
“Yes, oh, yes,” she jumped into his arms, wrapping her beautiful legs around him. Placing her ever so gently on the bonnet of his old car, they did, in fact, get dirty.
Wait, there’s more
If you like this book, leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. The only way I can decide whether to write another book in this series is by getting feedback from you. Your opinion is important to me. I only have so much time to devote to each series and I have heaps of these gorgeous men in my head wanting to get out. Plus, your reviews keep my spirits up and inspire my creativity.
You can also find out more about me and my works in progress by following my blog, Facebook or Twitter @KennaShawReed. Or keep reading for a sneak peak from one of my other books.
Choose your own Dirty Sexy Fantasy series
Too much romance for erotica, too many affairs for romance. Every tale in the Choose your own Dirty Sexy Fantasy series has multiple paths to a happily ever after. Read them as stand alone or as a series.
The Uni Student
Ava had always loved Alex and leaving home didn’t mean leaving him. Until she met the professor. Torn between two lovers, to find her true love Ava must first find herself. Free on Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 from Amazon.
The Intern
Betrayed once, Jade no longer trusts herself to fall in love with only one man. When the fireworks explode, and her secrets are uncovered, will Jade find her happily ever after? Free on Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 from Amazon.
The Question Is
Loving both of them broke all rules. Leaving either would break her heart. If the question is love, who is the answer? An LGBT romance. Free on Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 on Amazon.
The Politician’s Wife
The politician’s wife is not always the good wife. Especially when her husband is a lying, cheating … Can revenge be best served in a new lover’s bed? Free on Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 from Amazon.
The Unfaithful Wife
Nina was always the understanding wife, even forgiving – until her husband’s latest affair. Now she must decide whether her future can be based on her own affairs of the heart Free on Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 from Amazon.
The (Un)Forgiving Wife – release late 2018
After the trauma of childbirth, Juliette never expected her husband to be faithful. But when she discovers his latest affair, she must decide whether to forgive, or move on and embrace other forms of love.
Bad Boys and Good Men series
Meet the bad boys you can’t resist and the good men you’ve already fallen in love with from the Dirty Sexy Fantasy series. One man per short novel with one last chance at love. All levels of steam.
Trusting his Heart
For ten years he grieved the loss of his wife, never wanting or needing anyone until Bec came into his life. Now, Geoffrey loves Bec enough to set her free. She loves him enough to stay. Will he face the fight of his life alone or with the woman he loves? Free on Kindle Unlimited or own it forever $2.99.
A Billion Reasons Why
Under a billion stars they fell in love. A million times he could have told her the truth. She could forgive him for almost anything. Except lying about who he is. With trust gone, can she ever love him again? Free on Kindle Unlimited or own it forever $2.99.
Never Second Best
His wife left him to raise their three children and fight for his foster son alone. Now, Seth refuses to ever be second best again. Lucy has loved Seth for years knowing she would never be more than a friend. Can she ever believe his words of love are meant for her? Free on Kindle Unlimited or own it forever $2.99.
Who is Erebus? – release August 2018
Once you meet him in The Intern you will want answers to Who is Erebus! Cue the cold shower. More steam than a sauna. You’re welcome.
Before there was a choice, there was a love story
Professed Love - You can't choose who to love - or deny love when it happens. Can you?
Stand-alone, short prequel to The Uni Student and The Intern.
Absolutely free.
Sneak peak from Trusting his Heart
Whoever said time heals all wounds was a jerk, Professor Geoffrey Swains thought as he struggled with his suitcase. Many years ago, he found his life’s love. She had been cruelly taken from him with scars still so fresh, he never sought the courage or the willingness to open his heart again.
With his luggage now packed, he took a last look around his office. The invitation taunting him on the desk. He should have burnt the envelope the moment it tore him apart. Instead, his secretary found the embossed card at the bottom of his in-tray.
“Professor, you should be proud they want to celebrate your career.”
“Then book me some video chats. I don’t want to go.”
“Why not?”
Why, indeed. Normally he appreciated the way she organized his life, but she didn’t know the significance behind this invitation and he lacked the composure to explain. Instead, he offered a feeble excuse, “It’s too much time away from class – I’ll spend most of my time on a plane between Australia and Boston.”
Ever helpful, she approached the Vice Chancellor who jumped at the chance to promote both the Professor and the university.
Resigned to his fate, he accepted the invitation to return to the States, to receive a ten-year commemoration of his break through work in economics. The reputation building work that some said should have resulted in a Nobel Prize.
The university decided to host a celebratory reception and farewell drinks before he escaped to the airport.
Geoffrey picked up and kissed the small photo from its discrete place on his desk. The woman, thin and pale, rugged up in a thick parka and beanie smiling in his arms. His thick dark hair windswept, his dark eyes not looking at the camera but closed as he kissed the top of her head. A treasured moment from one of their last magical days. Replacing the photo, he glanced at the desk calendar turning out the light. 26 November. On 14 December, it would be ten years - ten lonely years since he lost the love of his life and turned into a man his wife would never recognize or want for him to be.
He locked away the memories and the feelings still too fresh and forced himself to become the brash, confident, Professor Swains for another hour or two for the university elite. Two weeks of functions overseas marking the ten-year anniversary of his academic successes before he blanked out a week of his schedule. Seven days alone to grieve and mark his own anniversary.
“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?” Of course, Vice Chancellor Rigby would have to make a speech. Geoffrey had never known a finer man or a better friend. The two couples had once been close friends, before Geoffrey closed himself to the pity and sympathy by hiding from the world of couples. At least Rigby would be sensitive to the other anniversary.
“I have known the esteemed Geoffrey Swains for decades and regret to say, I am but one of his many friends and peers who didn’t realize the greatness he kept hidden during our wild student days and early academic careers. Back then, Geoffrey found passion in rugby, rowing and only turned up to lectures because the only alternative was finding a real job.”
Geoffrey chuckled to himself as he
saw the looks on the audience as they tried to imagine the world famous Professor Swains as a mere mortal student or aspiring academic such as themselves. Behind every successful Vice Chancellor hid a frustrated stage performer. With a captive audience, Rigby hit his stride, mocking Geoffrey as only old friends and respected peers could do. Formal functions normally bored Geoffrey, especially when he was the center of attention, but he found Rigby’s banter harmless and even fun to return if given the chance.
“Geoffrey, the work we are celebrating changed the course of our research. You probably still find great humor in knowing some of us here today – myself included –were forced to trash partially completed thesis and start again because your work proved us wrong before we had a chance to show how brilliant we were.” Rigby waited for the laughter to subside.
“It is totally appropriate you return to the scene of your crime against us,” Rigby paused, “Of course, I mean, to the scene of your accomplishments, to receive whatever gongs, awards and tributes they want to bestow on you.”
Geoffrey thought the speech ended. Not as painful as he feared. Glasses were filled and raised all around. One toast and he’d make his excuses and leave – after all airport security would take hours to clear.
“Geoffrey, I have known you as a friend and colleague more than half our lives. As a colleague, and now as your Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the university I commend you for your achievements past and present. I thank you for your continued work here at the university and on behalf of the many students you have supported, mentored and cajoled towards their own brilliance, I thank you again.
“As your friend, well,” Rigby wouldn’t, would he? Geoffrey’s throat tightened. Muscles froze. Breath held. Surely, Rigby wouldn’t go there. Not now, not without warning - he wouldn’t expose Geoffrey’s private pain to the crowd.
“I know success has not come without personal loss, I mean cost. Ten years and yet it still seems like yesterday when you arrived back from the States.” The two friends shared a long glance, oblivious to the audience starting to fidget, waiting for the opportunity to finish the toast. Geoffrey knew what Rigby wanted to say. Instead, face flushed, Rigby faced the front and choked, “To Geoffrey Swains, to ten years.”
Turning back to Geoffrey, he raised his glass again and in low tones enough for Geoffrey’s ears only, “To Rachel.”
Get your tissues ready and your copy of Trusting his Heart today.
Table of Contents
Mouth of Babes
Disorganized Chaos
Desperate Measures
Calm Before Storm
Emotional Chaos
Out of time
Nobody’s Second Best
Final arguments
To trust in love?
Winner takes it all
Wait, there’s more
Sneak peak from Trusting his Heart